Automatic retention apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/964,491 filed Apr. 27, 208, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/490,661, filed Apr. 27, 2017, bothof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Wearable devices such as snowboard and ski boots, orthotics,prosthetics, exoskeletons, backpacks and the like can present a constantchallenge to the user. Depending on the situation, it may beadvantageous for the device to be held more tightly to a person's body,such as when completing a high-speed turn on snow skis or whenfree-falling just before opening a parachute while sky diving. A loosefit may result in failure to complete the turn, or loss of a parachutewhen the parachute opens and the user experiences a brief period ofrapid deceleration. However, a loose fit is often advantageous duringlong periods of milder activity, such as while riding up a chair lift onthe ski slope, or during the airplane ride to altitude before preparingto sky dive.

The optimum tension applied to the attachment interface of the wearabledevice may be directly related to movement of the wearable devicerelative to the person wearing it, or relative to the environment aroundthe person wearing it, or relative to some other context such as avehicle the person is riding in. This relative motion may be desirablein some situations, and less desirable in others depending on thecircumstances. In many situations, the optimum tension may changequickly making it impractical for the user to adjust the tension on thewearable device manually. It may also be the case that the activity theuser is engaged in requires using both hands for balance, formanipulating an object, or for support such as in the case of a personusing crutches.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are various examples of an automatic retention apparatus forautomatically retaining a first object adjacent to a second object. Inone example, a retention member may be coupled to the first object andsurrounds at least a portion of the second object, and the retentionnumber may be mounted outside of the first object. An actuator may beincluded that has a rotating member rotatable about an axis of rotation,the rotating member may be outside the first object and coupled to theretention member, the actuator rotates the rotating member in a firstdirection to increase a length of the retention member reducing tensionon the retention member, and the actuator rotates the rotating member ina second direction opposite the first direction to decrease the lengthof the retention member increasing tension on the retention member. Aprocessor may be included that may be responsive to input from at leastone sensor and configured to control the actuator according to the inputfrom the sensor, wherein the processor may be configured to control theactuator to rotate the rotating member in the first or second directionto adjust tension on the retention member to automatically retain thefirst object adjacent to the second object based on input from thesensor.

In another aspect, the first object may be an article of footwear, andthe second object may be a foot of an user inside the article offootwear. In another aspect, the first object may be a container, andthe second object may be a person or animal wearing the container. Inanother aspect, the first object may be a coupling device and the secondobject may be an article of footwear. In another aspect, the retentionmember and the first object are separately mounted to a third object,wherein the third object may be optionally any one of a surf board, kiteboard, ski, snow board, or skate board.

In another aspect, the retention member defines one or more holespassing through at least a portion of the retention member, and therotating member may be a gear with multiple teeth engaging the holes ofthe retention member.

In another aspect, first object may be a human wearable device and thesecond object may be a portion of a human or animal wearing the humanwearable device, and the at least one sensor may be configured to sensechanges in a sense parameter based on movement of the human wearabledevice caused by movement of the human or animal wearing the humanwearable device. In another aspect, the first object may be a humanwearable device and the second object may be a portion of a human oranimal wearing the human wearable device, and the at least one sensormay be configured to detect changes in a sense parameter caused bymovement of a third object. In another aspect the third object may becoupled to the human wearable device.

In another aspect, the retention member may be arranged along a longaxis that may be substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of therotating member. In another aspect, the retention member may be arrangedalong a long axis that may be substantially perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of the rotating member.

In another aspect, the automatic retention apparatus includes a brakingmechanism coupled to the rotating member that may be configured to holdthe rotating member from rotating in either the first or seconddirection.

In another aspect, the sense parameter includes any combination ofspeed, angular momentum, velocity, motion, acceleration, air pressure,force, ambient air temperature. In another aspect, the at least onesensor includes a first sensor mounted to the retention member andconfigured generate input based on tension in the retention member, anda second sensor mounted to the first object and configured to generateinput based on movement of the first object. In another aspect, therotating member may be a pulley and the retention member may be a cablewrapped around at least a portion of the pulley. In another aspect, theat least one sensor may be mounted to the first object and configured togenerate input based on movement of the first object. In another aspect,the cable passes through a conduit defined by the first object andsurrounds the second object retained at least partially inside the firstobject.

In another aspect, the automatic retention apparatus includes a memoryconfigured to store data about changes in the rotation of the rotatingmember over a predetermined period of time. In another aspect, therotation in the first and second directions may be a function of forceapplied to the retention member by the second object.

In another example, an automatic retention apparatus for an article offootwear may be disclosed that has a sensor configured to sense changesin a sense parameter based on movement of the article of footwear. Alsoincluded may be a retention member surrounding at least a portion of thearticle of footwear, the retention member may be positioned adjacent toan outside surface of the article of footwear, and the retention memberdefines one or more holes passing through at least a portion of theretention member. The apparatus has an actuator that includes a gearwith multiple teeth, the gear rotatable about an axis of rotation andpositioned in the actuator so that at least one of the multiple teethextend into the one or more holes of the retention member, the actuatormay be coupled to the retention member adjacent an outside surface ofthe article of footwear, and the gear may be configured to adjusttension on the retention member as it rotates. Also included may be aprocessor responsive to input from the sensor and configured to controlthe actuator according to the input from the sensor, and the processormay be configured to control the actuator to rotate the gear about theaxis of rotation to adjust tension on the at least a portion of thearticle of footwear according to input from the sensor.

In another aspect, the retention member and the article of footwear areseparately mounted to a coupling device. In another aspect, the couplingdevice may be mounted to a snow ski, or snow board. In another aspect,the retention member may be arranged along a long axis that may besubstantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the gear. In anotheraspect, the retention member may be arranged along a long axis that maybe substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the gear.

In another aspect, the retention apparatus also includes a brakingmechanism coupled to the gear and configured to hold the gear fromrotating. In another aspect, the opposing ends of the retention memberare mounted adjacent a sole region of the article of footwear, and theactuator may be mounted to the retention member adjacent a toe region ofthe article of footwear on a side of the article of footwear oppositethe sole portion. In another aspect, the retention apparatus alsoincludes a memory storing configuration data of the actuator andhistorical data of past sensor output and changes to the tension on theretention member, and the processor may be configured to determine atension to apply to the retention member based on input from the sensorand the configuration data in the memory. Also included may be awireless communication module controlled by the processor and configuredto wirelessly communicate with a remote computer to receiveconfiguration data and send the historical data.

In another aspect, the automatic retention apparatus includes a secondretention member surrounding at least a portion of an ankle region of anarticle of footwear, the second retention member may be positionedadjacent to the outside surface of the article of footwear, and thesecond retention member defines one or more holes passing through atleast a portion of the second retention member. Also included may be asecond actuator that includes a second gear with multiple teeth, thesecond gear rotatable about a second axis of rotation and positioned inthe actuator so that at least one of the multiple teeth of the secondgear extend into the one or more holes of the second retention member,wherein the second actuator may be coupled to the second retentionmember adjacent an outside surface of the ankle region of the article offootwear, and wherein the gear may be configured to adjust tension onthe second retention member as it rotates. In another aspect theprocessor may be configured to control the second actuator to rotate thesecond gear about the second axis of rotation to adjust tension on theankle region of the article of footwear according to input from thesensor.

Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, andexamples of the present disclosure will become apparent from a detaileddescription and drawings provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a component diagram illustrating exemplary components of anautomatic retention apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of how some of the components illustratedin FIG. 1 may be arranged.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example of how some of the componentsillustrated in FIG. 1 may be arranged.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of an automatic retention apparatus ofFIG. 1 used in conjunction with an article of footwear.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of an automatic retention apparatusof FIG. 1 used in conjunction with the article of footwear in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of an automatic retention apparatusof FIG. 1 used in conjunction with the human wearable object.

FIG. 7 is a circuit component diagram illustrating one example of acontrol circuit for the automatic retention apparatus of FIGS. 1-6

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the disclosed regions of an article offootwear that may be used with the automatic retention apparatus ofFIGS. 1-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates at 100 components that may be included in automaticretention apparatus. An automatic retention apparatus 100 may include aprocessor 103 for processing data and generating commands orinstructions to other components in the apparatus to control theapparatus. Processor 103 may also be thought of as a controller in thatit accepts input and generates output controlling operationalcharacteristics of the apparatus. A battery 105 may be included forproviding power to the processor and other components of the apparatus.A memory 119 may be included for storing information such asconfiguration data 121 and historical data 124. In another aspect,memory 119 may be configured to store data such as time, direction, andextent of the rotation of the rotating member over a predeterminedperiod of time. Memory 119 may also be configured to store data valuesrepresenting sense parameters detected by sensors 129 provided by thesensors as input to the processor. Historical data 124 may includedates, times, locations, or other metadata. Configuration data 121 mayinclude values for configuring the operation of the automatic retentionapparatus.

A wireless communication module 108 may be included and may also have anantenna 110, transmitter 112, and receiver 114. The antenna may be usedby the transmitter and receiver to send and receive wirelesscommunications to a remote computer 142 to, for example, send andreceive updated configuration data, historical data, and/or controlsignals. Antenna 110 may be configured to resonate according to radiowaves carrying signals defining data sent and received by wirelesscommunication module 108. Transmitter 112 may use antenna 110 to sendsignals, and receiver 114 may also use antenna 110 to receive signalsdefining data to be processed by processor 103 and/or stored in memory119. Signals sent and received by the transmitter and receiver may besent via any suitable medium such as via radio waves, by modulatingvisible or invisible light, and the like.

A network interface 117 may be included and may implement variouscommunication protocols useful for interacting with remote devices overa communications link that may be connected to a network such as theInternet. Such a communications link may be a wireless communicationslink implemented using wireless communication module 108, or a physicalcommunication link implemented using wires, optical fibers, and thelike. For example, wireless communication module 108 may transmit andreceive signals which may then be processed according to the protocolsrecognized by network interface 117 in order to implement acommunications link.

Retention apparatus 100 may include a retention member 127 for retainingobjects together. One or more sensors 129 may be included in or coupledto retention number 127. The sensors may be configured to sense anysuitable sense parameter such as any combination of speed, angularmomentum, velocity, motion, acceleration, air pressure, force, ambientair temperature, and the like. Sensors 129 may optionally be included inor mounted to retention member 127, or included in or mounted toautomatic retention apparatus 100. Sensor input from sensors on otherobjects interacting with apparatus 100 may also be used such as in thecase of wireless sensors sending data received as signals 140 bywireless communication module 108 from a remote location.

An actuator 130 may be included and configured to act on retentionnumber 127 to increase or decrease tension on the retention member tovary the resulting tension on any or objects to be held in place by aretention member 127. A motor 132 may be included in actuator 130 andcoupled to a rotating member 134 such as the gear, pulley, and the like.An optional braking mechanism 136 may be coupled to rotating member 134two selectively limit movement of rotating member 134, such as, forexample reducing or eliminating the possibility of retrograde rotationafter rotating member 134 is no longer being acted on by motor 132. Inthis way, braking mechanism 136 may be used to maintain tension onretention member 127 after actuator 130 has applied tension.

FIG. 2 illustrates at 200 one example of an arrangement of some of theparts of the automatic retention apparatus discussed in FIG. 1. Aretention member 208 is coupled to a first object 205 and surrounds atleast a portion of a second object 203 such that the retention member ismounted outside the first object 205. In this example, retention member208 includes multiple portions such as a left portion 209 and a rightportion 210 which may be mounted to first object 205.

Aspects of an actuator like actuator 130 are illustrated in FIG. 2. Theactuator includes a rotating member 211 rotatable about an axis ofrotation 220. Rotation about the axis is provided by a motor 218 coupledto rotating member 211 by a shaft 215. In this example, rotating member211 is a worm gear with one or more teeth engaging one or more holes 213passing through at least a portion of the retention member 208. Rotatingmember 211 rotates around and axis of rotation 220 that is substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis 223 of retention member 208. Asillustrated, the rotating member is outside the first object and coupledto retention number 208 such that when the actuator rotates the rotatingmember in a first direction, the length of retention member 208 isincreased thus reducing tension on the retention member and consequentlyreducing the tension of retention member 208 on second object 203. Inother words, reducing tension on the retention member reduces thecompression force on object 203 caused by retention member 208 thusrelaxing the compression of object 203 with respect to object 205. Whenthe actuator rotates rotating member 211 in a second direction oppositethe first direction, the length of retention member 208 is decreasedthus increasing tension on the retention member 208 and increasingtension on second object 203. Reducing the length of retention number208 thus increases the compression force caused by retention member 208on object 203 thus also pressing object 203 and 205 together moretightly. In this way, an actuator with a motor driving a worm gear thatengages holes in a retention member is operable to automatically adjusta force applied to a first object to retain it in proper relationshipwith a second object by adjusting tension on the retention member.

In another aspect, a processor such as processor 103 responsive to inputfrom at least one sensor like sensor 129 may be configured to controlthe actuator. A processor may control the actuator instructing it toenergize the motor to rotate the rotating member in the first or seconddirection to adjust the tension on the retention member to automaticallyretain the first object adjacent to the second object based on inputfrom the sensor. For example, processor 103 may control the actuator torotate in the first and second directions with the direction and numberof rotations being a function of force applied to the retention memberby the second object as measured by sensors 129.

In another aspect, FIG. 2 illustrates an example of sensors 129positioned to collect data about sense parameters related to theoperation of the automatic retention apparatus. For example, a sensor222 is mounted to retention member 208, and a sensor 221 is mounted tofirst object 205. Sensor 222 is configured to generate input for theprocessor based on tension in the retention member 208, and sensor 222is configured to generate input for the processor based on movement ofthe first object 205. This allows the processor to determine and controltension in retention member 208 according to movement of the firstobject.

In another aspect, the processor controls rotation in the first andsecond directions as a function of force applied to the retention memberby the second object. This force may be measured using any of sensors129 such as by measuring changes in the tension on retention member 208measured by sensor 222. For example, if first object 205 is acceleratedin a direction away from retention member 208, the tension on retentionmember 208 applied by second object 203 will increase and may bemeasured as a temporary or prolonged increase in force applied to theretention member by the second object 203 as measured by sensor 222. Theapparatus may then respond to the sensor readings by automaticallyrotating rotatable number 211 two shorten retention member 208 thesupplying additional force to objects 205 and 203 to retain them inplace.

Another example of an arrangement of some of the parts of automaticretention apparatus 100 is shown at 300 in FIG. 3. In this example,motor 218 rotates a shaft 308 that rotates around an axis of rotation305. Unlike the example of 200, the retention member is arranged along alongitudinal axis 223 that is substantially perpendicular to the axis ofrotation 305 of the rotating member 208. In this example a rotatingmember 303 is a gear that rotates with shaft 308 to engage retentionmember 208. Teeth of gear 303 engage holes 213 to cause left portion 209to move in the direction of right portion 210 thus increasing tension inthe retention member and applying a corresponding compression force toretain second object 203 in the proper position with respect to firstobject 205.

A braking mechanism 311 is coupled to the rotating member and configuredto hold the rotating member from rotating in either the first or seconddirection, such as when motor 218 has stopped rotating shaft 308. Inanother aspect, the processor may be configured to selectively engageand/or disengage braking mechanism 311 to facilitate changes in thetension of retention member 208 while maintaining those changes. Inanother aspect, braking mechanism 311 may be configured to automaticallyrelease when motor 218 begins to rotate and then automatically activatewhen stops rotating shaft 308. Braking mechanism 311 may thus reduce oreliminate unwanted forward or reverse rotation that might, for example,cause retention member 208 to loosen after motor 218 has stoppedrotating. Like the example shown in FIG. 2, the processor may acceptinput from sensors 129, such as sensors 222 and 221, to adjust thetension according to forces applied to the retention member 208, firstobject 205, and second object 203.

FIG. 4 illustrates at 400 aspects of the disclosed automatic retentionapparatus adapted for use with a human wearable object such as anarticle of footwear. In this example, the article of footwear 401 may bemounted to an object 405 which may be any object such as a snow ski,snowboard, sail board, kite board, surfboard, and the like. A firstautomatic retention apparatus 407 is coupled to the object 405 withopposing ends of a retention member 411 mounted adjacent to a soleregion 413 of the article of footwear 401.

An actuator like those discussed above in FIGS. 1-3 may be included inretention apparatus 407 that includes a gear with multiple teeth, thegear rotatable about an axis of rotation and positioned in the actuatorso that at least one of the multiple teeth extends into the one or moreholes of the retention member. The actuator is coupled to the retentionmember adjacent an outside surface 417 of the article of footwear, andthe gear is configured to adjust tension on the retention member as itrotates as discussed previously (See FIGS. 2 and 3). In FIG. 4, theactuator is mounted to the retention member 411 adjacent a toe region415 of the article of footwear 401 on a side opposite the sole portion413. A sensor 403 may be included and is configured to sense changes ina sense parameter based on movement of the article of footwear. Asdisclosed elsewhere, such changes may include, but are not limited to,any combination of speed, angular momentum, velocity, motion,acceleration, force, and the like. Sensor 403 may be included in thearticle of footwear 401, such as embedded in the sole portion 413, oroptionally mounted in any other suitable location including insideretention apparatus 407.

In another aspect, retention apparatus 407 may include a processorresponsive to input from the sensor 403, and may be configured tocontrol the actuator according to the input from the sensor. Theprocessor may be configured to control the actuator to rotate the gearabout the axis of rotation to adjust tension on the portion of thearticle of footwear according to input from the sensor in a mannersimilar to what is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and disclosed herein.

In another aspect, FIG. 4 illustrates that automatic retention apparatus407 may be configured such that the actuator, gear, processor, and atleast a portion of the retention member 411 are contained within ahousing separate from and adjacent to the article of footwear. Inanother aspect discussed herein elsewhere, retention apparatus 407 mayinclude a memory storing configuration data of the actuator andhistorical data of past sensor output and changes to the tension on theretention member. The processor may be configured to determine a tensionto apply to the retention member based on input from the sensor and theconfiguration data in the memory. Retention apparatus 407 may alsoinclude a wireless communication module controlled by the processor andconfigured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computer or remotesensors such as sensor 403 to receive configuration data, sendhistorical data, or receive sensor input in the form of sensor datadefined by electromagnetic signals.

Also illustrated in FIG. 4 is a second automatic retention apparatus 409that is like automatic retention apparatus 407 and may include a secondretention member 412 surrounding at least a portion of an ankle region418 of the article of footwear 401. In this example, second retentionmember 412 is positioned adjacent to the outside surface 417 of thearticle of footwear, the second retention member 412 defines one or moreholes passing through at least a portion of the second retention member.Second retention apparatus 409 may be configured like first retentionapparatus 407 to further include a second actuator with a second gearhaving multiple teeth, the second gear rotatable about a second axis ofrotation and positioned in the actuator so that at least one of themultiple teeth of the second gear extend into the one or more holes ofthe second retention member. The second actuator may be coupled to thesecond retention member 412 adjacent an outside surface 417 of the ankleregion 418 of the article of footwear, and the second gear may beconfigured to adjust tension on the second retention member as itrotates as discussed herein elsewhere. Like in the case of a processorin the first automatic retention apparatus 407, the processor inapparatus 409 may be configured to control the second actuator to rotatethe second gear about the second axis of rotation to adjust tension onthe ankle region 418 of the article of footwear 401 according to inputfrom the sensor 403.

The article of footwear 401 may be thought of as a first object, and afoot 430 of a user or person wearing the article of footwear may bethought of as the second object, and a retention member such as a member411, or 412 may be separately mounted to a third object 405 that isseparate from the first and second objects. This third object may be ahuman wearable object such as recreational items surf boards, kiteboards, skis, snow boards, or skate boards. The third object may be anyhuman wearable object such as a medical brace, exoskeleton, and thelike.

In another example, the first object may be a human wearable device suchas the article of footwear 401, and the second object may be a portionof a human or animal 430 that is wearing the human wearable device. Atleast one sensor such as sensor 403 may be configured to sense changesin a sense parameter based on movement of the human wearable devicecaused by movement of the human or animal wearing the human wearabledevice. In another aspect, the first object may be a human wearabledevice such as the article of footwear 401, and the second object may bea portion of a human or animal wearing the human wearable device. Atleast one sensor may be configured to detect changes in a senseparameter caused by movement of the third object 405. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the third object may be coupled to the human wearable devicesuch as in the case of footwear 401 which may be coupled to object 405.

FIG. 5 illustrates at 500 another example of an automatic retentionapparatus like the examples shown in preceding figures. In FIG. 5, motor218 drives a pulley 503 that is coupled to a retention member 508 whichis wrapped around at least a portion of the pulley. In this example,retention member 508 is a cable coupled to pulley 503 and passing arounda portion of a first object such as an article of footwear 401. Thecable passes through a conduit 511 defined by the first object andsurrounds the second object such as a portion of person or animal (e.g.a foot) that is retained at least partially inside the first object.Motor 218 and retention member 508 may be anchored to a base 505, whichmay also be mounted to the article of footwear 401, or may be separatelymounted to a third object as discussed herein elsewhere.

FIG. 6 illustrates at 600 aspects of the disclosed automatic retentionapparatus adapted for use with the other human wearable devices such asa backpack 608, or other similar container configured to be worn orcarried by a person or animal 606. In this example automatic retentionapparatus 603 is configured to adjust tension on a retention member 605.In referring to the previous figures discussed herein, backpack 608 maybe thought of as a first object that is a container, and the person oranimal 606 carrying the backpack 608 be thought of as the second object.Movement of a third object, such as a vehicle carrying the person oranimal 606, may be sensed by a sensor in retention apparatus 603, or bysensors in the environment, or included with the third object and sentto the retention apparatus by electromagnetic signals. In operation,retention member 605 may be kept relatively loose while sensors 129detect relative low levels of acceleration, speed, and the like (e.g.while the user 606 is walking) so that the backpack 608 is comfortable.As the person begins to move faster, runs, jumps, or perhaps falls orbegins to slide or tumble downhill, the sensor input may be used by theprocessor in the apparatus to increase the tension on the retentionmember according to the principles illustrated herein so as toautomatically maintain the backpack 608 with the person 606 so avoidseparation.

In another example, the backpack 608 may include a parachute, such as inthe case of sky diver. While walking to the aircraft, or even whileflying to the jump altitude, the retention member 605 may be keptrelatively loose by the retention apparatus, and may automaticallytighten somewhat when sensors 129 detect reduced air pressure as theplane climbs, and may tighten further when a dramatic increase inacceleration is detected, such as when the person jumps from theaircraft.

In operation, the processor and/or other electronics in the variousexamples of an automatic retention apparatus disclosed herein isoperable to automatically adjust the tension on the retention member. Inone operational aspect, the processor is programmed to perform a poweron process for the data collection and control electronics. The processmay begin by receiving a power on command to activate the apparatusincluding the processor and any additional control electronics. Theprocessor may initiate communication with an inertial sensor suite via adigital interface, and may also initialize a file system in the memoryfor recording data and maintaining configuration data such as theconfiguration data discussed herein. The processor may also begincalibration of all available sensors such as any inertial sensors. Thismay include configuring the resolution of the sensors and the samplerate. It may also include configuring sensor noise filter.

The processor may also be configured to execute a data collection andcontrol algorithm. The algorithm may include retrieving the availablestream of data from any available sensors representing the values of thevarious sense parameters generated by the sensors. The processor mayapply/update digital filter of state data, and/or use an adaptivealgorithm to identify important data features in the time and frequencydomain of the incoming data stream. The processor may use the resultingdata, configuration parameters, and real-time data features to calculateone or more values representing the tension to be applied to theretention member. The processor may compare the values to measureddevice parameters and communicate the tension values to the actuator toadjust the tension accordingly. The data collection and controlalgorithm may then repeat as necessary. The algorithm may executemultiple times a second such as more than 10 times a second, more than1000 times a second, or more than a million times a second.

One example of circuit components for processing signal input andproducing a motor control output is illustrated at 700 in FIG. 7. Thesecomponents may be used with, or included in components discussed hereinelsewhere, particularly with respect to the components illustrated inFIG. 1 at 100. The control circuit at 700 may include multiple subcircuits such as a sensor processing circuit 714, a memory cardinterface 734, and high-level control of decision logic circuit 722, andexternal current watchdog circuit 708, a low level Proportional IntegralDerivative (PID) loop 726, and the saturation compensation circuit 728.External current watchdog circuit 708 may include a hardware abortaspect which may operate as a current limiter to avoid overloading motor132. A motor current operational amplifier (or “Op Amp”) 702 passessignals representing the data value for motor current to a 14-bit Analogto Digital Converter (ADC) 704. The sensor processing circuit 714 mayinclude any suitable sensors 129 such as a 3-axis accelerometer 712 and3-axis gyro 716 which may be used to estimate the motion state at 718 byutilizing such filters as the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform), FIR (FiniteImpulse Response), and IIR (Infinite Impulse Response). Memory cardinterface 734 may include an SPI-bus and SD card reader 736 with accessto update configuration data 121 which may include user configurableaspects or operating parameters of the automatic retention apparatus.The motion response executive 720 then reads the motion state andconfiguration data and passes the result to high-level control decisionlogic 722 which may then determine a target tension using target tensiongeneration circuits 724. This target tension may be compared to theactual tension calculated from motor current or sensor circuitrycomparing aspects such as force, torque or position data. The result ispassed to PID loop 726 and saturation circuitry 728 producing an outputsuch as Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) output 730 which may be provided tomotor 132 to automatically control tension on the retention member asdiscussed herein elsewhere.

GLOSSARY OF DEFINITIONS AND ALTERNATIVES

While examples are illustrated in the drawings and described herein,this disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictivein character. The present disclosure is exemplary in nature and allchanges, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit ofthe inventions as defined in the claims are included. The detaileddescription is included herein to discuss aspects of the examplesillustrated in the drawings for the purpose of promoting anunderstanding of the principles of the inventions. No limitation of thescope of the inventions is thereby intended. Any alterations and furthermodifications in the described examples, and any further applications ofthe principles described herein are contemplated as would normally occurto one skilled in the art to which the inventions relate. Some examplesare disclosed in detail, however some features that may not be relevantmay have been left out for the sake of clarity.

Where there are references to publications, patents, and patentapplications cited herein, they are understood to be incorporated byreference as if each individual publication, patent, or patentapplication were specifically and individually indicated to beincorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.

Singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, and the like include plural referentsunless expressly discussed otherwise. As an illustration, references to“a device” or “the device” include one or more of such devices andequivalents thereof.

Directional terms, such as “up”, “down”, “top” “bottom”, “fore”, “aft”,“lateral”, “longitudinal”, “radial”, “circumferential”, etc., are usedherein solely for the convenience of the reader in order to aid in thereader's understanding of the illustrated examples. The use of thesedirectional terms does not in any manner limit the described,illustrated, and/or claimed features to a specific direction and/ororientation.

Multiple related items may be illustrated in the drawings with the samepart number but differentiated by a letter for separate individualinstances. These may be referred to generally by a distinguishableportion of the full name, and/or by the number alone. For example, ifmultiple “laterally extending elements” 90A, 90B, 90C, and 90D areillustrated in the drawings, the disclosure may refer to these as“laterally extending elements 90A-90D,” or as “laterally extendingelements 90,” or by a distinguishable portion of the full name such as“elements 90”.

The language used in the disclosure are presumed to have only theirplain and ordinary meaning, except as explicitly defined below. Thewords used in the definitions included herein are to only have theirplain and ordinary meaning. Such plain and ordinary meaning is inclusiveof all consistent dictionary definitions from the most recentlypublished Webster's and Random House dictionaries. As used herein, thefollowing definitions apply to the following terms or to commonvariations thereof (e.g., singular/plural forms, past/present tenses,etc.):

“Actuator” generally refers to a device for activating or controllingthe actions of an actuated device. This may include, but is not limitedto, moving or controlling movement. An actuator may be an element oraspect of the actuated device, such as in the case of a valve thatincludes an actuator for opening and closing the valve. An actuator mayactuate operation of the device by direct mechanical linkage, by signalssent to the device via electromagnetic energy traveling over a wire,optical fiber, or through the air, or by actuating an interveningapparatus that causes the desired actuation of the target device.

“Antenna” or “Antenna system” generally refers to an electrical device,or series of devices, in any suitable configuration, that convertselectric power into electromagnetic radiation. Such radiation may beeither vertically, horizontally, or circularly polarized at anyfrequency along the electromagnetic spectrum. Antennas transmitting withcircular polarity may have either right-handed or left-handedpolarization.

In the case of radio waves, an antenna may transmit at frequenciesranging along electromagnetic spectrum from extremely low frequency(ELF) to extremely high frequency (EHF). An antenna or antenna systemdesigned to transmit radio waves may comprise an arrangement of metallicconductors (elements), electrically connected (often through atransmission line) to a receiver or transmitter. An oscillating currentof electrons forced through the antenna by a transmitter can create anoscillating magnetic field around the antenna elements, while the chargeof the electrons also creates an oscillating electric field along theelements. These time-varying fields radiate away from the antenna intospace as a moving transverse electromagnetic field wave. Conversely,during reception, the oscillating electric and magnetic fields of anincoming electromagnetic wave exert force on the electrons in theantenna elements, causing them to move back and forth, creatingoscillating currents in the antenna. These currents can then be detectedby receivers and processed to retrieve digital or analog signals ordata.

Antennas can be designed to transmit and receive radio wavessubstantially equally in all horizontal directions (omnidirectionalantennas), or preferentially in a particular direction (directional orhigh gain antennas). In the latter case, an antenna may also includeadditional elements or surfaces which may or may not have any physicalelectrical connection to the transmitter or receiver. For example,parasitic elements, parabolic reflectors or horns, and other suchnon-energized elements serve to direct the radio waves into a beam orother desired radiation pattern. Thus antennas may be configured toexhibit increased or decreased directionality or “gain” by the placementof these various surfaces or elements. High gain antennas can beconfigured to direct a substantially large portion of the radiatedelectromagnetic energy in a given direction that may be verticalhorizontal or any combination thereof.

Antennas may also be configured to radiate electromagnetic energy withina specific range of vertical angles (i.e. “takeoff” angles) relative tothe earth in order to focus electromagnetic energy toward an upper layerof the atmosphere such as the ionosphere. By directing electromagneticenergy toward the upper atmosphere at a specific angle, specific skipdistances may be achieved at particular times of day by transmittingelectromagnetic energy at particular frequencies.

Other examples of antennas include emitters and sensors that convertelectrical energy into pulses of electromagnetic energy in the visibleor invisible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Examplesinclude light emitting diodes, lasers, and the like that are configuredto generate electromagnetic energy at frequencies ranging along theelectromagnetic spectrum from far infrared to extreme ultraviolet.

“Article of Footwear” generally refers to an object configured to beworn on the foot of a human or an animal. Examples of articles of footwear include, but are not limited to, shoes, boots, sandals, socks,stockings, leg braces, waders, and wet suits. An example of regions ofan article of footwear as referenced herein is illustrated in FIG. 8.Note that some articles of footwear do not rise high enough along theleg to cover the ankle, and therefore some footwear does not include anankle region. Some foot wear does not include laces or a tongue, and maynot include a heal region that is enclosed.

“Battery” generally refers to an electrical energy storage device orstorage system including multiple energy storage devices. A battery mayinclude one or more separate electrochemical cells, each convertingstored chemical energy into electrical energy by a chemical reaction togenerate an electromotive force (or “EMF” measured in Volts). Anindividual battery cell may have a positive terminal (cathode) with ahigher electrical potential, and a negative terminal (anode) that is ata lower electrical potential than the cathode. Any suitableelectrochemical cell may be used that employ any suitable chemicalprocess, including galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, fuel cells, flowcells and voltaic piles. When a battery is connected to an externalcircuit, electrolytes are able to move as ions within the battery,allowing the chemical reactions to be completed at the separateterminals thus delivering energy to the external circuit.

A battery may be a “primary” battery that can produce currentimmediately upon assembly. Examples of this type include alkalinebatteries, nickel oxyhydroxide, lithium-copper, lithium-manganese,lithium-iron, lithium-carbon, lithium-thionyl chloride, mercury oxide,magnesium, zinc-air, zinc-chloride, or zinc-carbon batteries. Suchbatteries are often referred to as “disposable” insofar as they aregenerally not rechargeable and are discarded or recycled afterdischarge.

A battery may also be a “secondary” or “rechargeable” battery that canproduce little or no current until charged. Examples of this typeinclude lead-acid batteries, valve regulated lead-acid batteries, sealedgel-cell batteries, and various “dry cell” batteries such asnickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH),and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

“Braking mechanism” generally refers to a selectively engageablemechanism configured to reduce or halt the movement or rotation of oneobject with respect to another. In one example, a braking mechanism usesfriction between two surfaces selectively pressed together to convertthe kinetic energy of the moving or rotating object into heat, thoughother methods of energy conversion may be employed. Regenerative brakingconverts much of the energy to electrical energy, which may be storedfor later use. Other methods convert kinetic energy into potentialenergy in such stored forms as pressurized air or pressurized oil. Eddycurrent brakes use magnetic fields to convert kinetic energy intoelectric current in the brake disc, fin, or rail, which is convertedinto heat. Still other braking methods even transform kinetic energyinto different forms, for example by transferring the energy to arotating flywheel.

Another example of a braking mechanism is a ratchet which allowscontinuous linear or rotary motion in only one direction whilepreventing motion in the opposite direction. A ratchet may include aseries of engagement members such as teeth arranged around a gear or onlinear rack. A pivoting, spring-loaded finger called a pawl engages theteeth. The teeth are uniform but asymmetrical, with each tooth having amoderate slope on one edge and a much steeper slope on the other edge.When the teeth are moving in the unrestricted (i.e., forward) direction,the pawl easily slides up and over the gently sloped edges of the teeth,with a biasing element such as a spring forcing it into the depressionbetween the teeth as it passes the tip of each tooth. When the teethattempt to move in the opposite (backward) direction the pawl catches onthe steeply sloped edge of the first tooth it encounters, therebylocking it against the tooth and preventing any further motion in thatdirection until the pawl is released.

“Cable” generally refers to one or more elongate strands of materialthat has tensile strength but little if any compressive strength. Inother words, a cable is a relatively flexible elongate structure of oneor more strands that tends to resist being pulled apart or stretched,but is generally unable to resist being compressed together. Examplesinclude wire rope, flexible shafts, Bowden cables, coaxial cable,twisted pair electrical wire, a single strand of wire, as well asnon-wire ropes made of natural or synthetic fibers.

“Computer” generally refers to any computing device configured tocompute a result from any number of input values or variables. Acomputer may include a processor for performing calculations to processinput or output. A computer may include a memory for storing values tobe processed by the processor, or for storing the results of previousprocessing.

A computer may also be configured to accept input and output from a widearray of input and output devices for receiving or sending values. Suchdevices include other computers, keyboards, mice, visual displays,printers, industrial equipment, and systems or machinery of all typesand sizes. For example, a computer can control a network or networkinterface to perform various network communications upon request. Thenetwork interface may be part of the computer, or characterized asseparate and remote from the computer.

A computer may be a single, physical, computing device such as a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, or may be composed of multiple devices ofthe same type such as a group of servers operating as one device in anetworked cluster, or a heterogeneous combination of different computingdevices operating as one computer and linked together by a communicationnetwork. The communication network connected to the computer may also beconnected to a wider network such as the internet. Thus a computer mayinclude one or more physical processors or other computing devices orcircuitry, and may also include any suitable type of memory.

A computer may also be a virtual computing platform having an unknown orfluctuating number of physical processors and memories or memorydevices. A computer may thus be physically located in one geographicallocation or physically spread across several widely scattered locationswith multiple processors linked together by a communication network tooperate as a single computer.

The concept of “computer” and “processor” within a computer or computingdevice also encompasses any such processor or computing device servingto make calculations or comparisons as part of the disclosed system.Processing operations related to threshold comparisons, rulescomparisons, calculations, and the like occurring in a computer mayoccur, for example, on separate servers, the same server with separateprocessors, or on a virtual computing environment having an unknownnumber of physical processors as described above.

A computer may be optionally coupled to one or more visual displaysand/or may include an integrated visual display. Likewise, displays maybe of the same type, or a heterogeneous combination of different visualdevices. A computer may also include one or more operator input devicessuch as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, laser or infrared pointingdevice, or gyroscopic pointing device to name just a few representativeexamples. Also, besides a display, one or more other output devices maybe included such as a printer, plotter, industrial manufacturingmachine, 3D printer, and the like. As such, various display, input andoutput device arrangements are possible.

Multiple computers or computing devices may be configured to communicatewith one another or with other devices over wired or wirelesscommunication links to form a network. Network communications may passthrough various computers operating as network appliances such asswitches, routers, firewalls or other network devices or interfacesbefore passing over other larger computer networks such as the interne.Communications can also be passed over the network as wireless datatransmissions carried over electromagnetic waves through transmissionlines or free space. Such communications include using WiFi or otherWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or a cellular transmitter/receiver totransfer data.

“Communication Link” generally refers to a connection between two ormore communicating entities and may or may not include a communicationschannel between the communicating entities. The communication betweenthe communicating entities may occur by any suitable means. For examplethe connection may be implemented as a physical link, an electricallink, an electromagnetic link, a logical link, or any other suitablelinkage facilitating communication.

In the case of physical link, communicating entities may be physicallyconnected one to another. For example, the physical link directlyconnected to one entity may be directly connected to another. In thecase of an electrical link, the communication link may be composed ofone or more electrical conductors electrically connected to thecommunicating entities to form the communication link. In the case of anelectromagnetic link, the communicating entities may be coupled to acommunications link by sending or receiving electromagnetic energy atany suitable frequency, thus allowing communications to pass aselectromagnetic waves. These electromagnetic waves may or may not passthrough a physical medium such as a wire or an optical fiber, or throughfree space, or any combination thereof. Electromagnetic waves may bepassed at any suitable frequency including any frequency in theelectromagnetic spectrum.

In the case of a logical link, the communication link may be aconceptual linkage between the sender and recipient such as atransmission station and receiving station. Logical link may include anycombination of physical, electrical, electromagnetic, or other types ofcommunication links.

“Coupling device” generally refers to a device for coupling one objectto another. Examples include a belt buckle, a zipper, a latch, apadlock, a trailer hitch, a clothing button, an electrical connector,boot bindings for a snow board or snow ski, and foot straps for a waterski, kite board, surf board, wave board, or sail board, to name a fewnon-limiting examples.

“Gear” generally refers to a machine part having engagement teeth, orcogs, which extend outwardly away from the body of the gear. The teethare configured to mesh with another part have corresponding similarlyspaced teeth or similarly spaced holes that extend at least a portion ofthe way through the other part. Types of gears include spur, helical,skew, double helical, bevel, spiral bevel, hypoid, crown, worm,non-circular, rack and pinion, epicyclic, sun and planet, harmonic,cage, cycloidal, and magnetic to name a few non-limiting examples.

Worm gears resemble screws and mesh with a worm wheel, which lookssimilar to a spur gear. Worm-and-gear sets are a simple and compact wayto achieve a high torque, low speed gear ratio. A worm gear is a speciesof helical gear, but its helix angle is usually somewhat large (close to90 degrees) and its body is usually fairly long in the axial direction.These attributes give it screw like qualities. The distinction between aworm and a helical gear is that at least one tooth persists for a fullrotation around the helix. A worm gear may be thought of as having asingle tooth in the case where the tooth persists for several turnsaround the helix. A worm gear may also be thought of as having more thanone tooth when viewed perpendicular to the long axis of the gear. Thereappearing tooth at intervals along the length of the worm may thus bethought of as multiple teeth.

In a worm-and-gear set, the worm can always drive the gear. However, ifthe gear attempts to drive the worm, it may or may not succeed.Particularly if the lead angle is small, the gear's teeth may simplylock against the worm's teeth, because the force componentcircumferential to the worm is not sufficient to overcome friction. Intraditional music boxes, however, the gear drives the worm, which has alarge helix angle. A worm and gear set may be “self-locking”, as when itis desired to set the position of a mechanism by turning the worm andthen have the mechanism hold that position without allowing retrograderotation. An example is the machine head found on some types of stringedinstruments.

“Hole” generally refers to a hollowed out area defined by a solid bodyor surface. A hole may extend into the solid body or surface withoutpassing through such as in the case of an indention, depression, or pit.A hole may also pass through one side of an object to another side, thuspassing completely through the object. The second side may be the sameas the first, such as in the case of loop inside a solid body. Holes mayhave any suitable shape such as a circle, rectangle, oval, square,triangle, and the like.

“Input” generally refers to something put in, such as a physicalsubstance put in (e.g. increased input of fuel), power or energy putinto a machine or system usually with the intent of sizable recovery inthe form of output, a component of production (such as land, labor, orraw materials), signals, data, or information fed into a computer,advice or comment, or a stimulus that acts on and is integrated into abodily system. In the case of information fed into a computer, the inputmay be generated by a sensor detecting a sense parameter. In thisinstances, the time-varying values of the sense parameter are at leastpart of the input.

“Memory” generally refers to any storage system or device configured toretain data or information. Each memory may include one or more types ofsolid-state electronic memory, magnetic memory, or optical memory, justto name a few. Memory may use any suitable storage technology, orcombination of storage technologies, and may be volatile, nonvolatile,or a hybrid combination of volatile and nonvolatile varieties. By way ofnon-limiting example, each memory may include solid-state electronicRandom Access Memory (RAM), Sequentially Accessible Memory (SAM) (suchas the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) variety or the Last-In-First-Out(LIFO) variety), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), ElectronicallyProgrammable Read Only Memory (EPROM), or Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read Only Memory (EEPROM).

Memory can refer to Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) or any variants,including static random access memory (SRAM), Burst SRAM or Synch BurstSRAM (BSRAM), Fast Page Mode DRAM (FPM DRAM), Enhanced DRAM (EDRA),Extended Data Output RAM (EDO RAM), Extended Data Output DRAM (EDODRAM), Burst Extended Data Output DRAM (REDO DRAM), Single Data RateSynchronous DRAM (SDR SDRAM), Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), DirectRambus DRAM (DRDRAM), or Extreme Data Rate DRAM (XDR DRAM).

Memory can also refer to non-volatile storage technologies such asnon-volatile read access memory (NVRAM), flash memory, non-volatilestatic RAM (nvSRAM), Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), Magnetoresistive RAM(MRAM), Phase-change memory (PRAM), conductive-bridging RAM (CBRAM),Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS), Resistive RAM (RRAM),Domain Wall Memory (DWM) or “Racetrack” memory, Nano-RAM (NRAM), orMillipede memory. Other non-volatile types of memory include opticaldisc memory (such as a DVD or CD ROM), a magnetically encoded hard discor hard disc platter, floppy disc, tape, or cartridge media. The conceptof a “memory” includes the use of any suitable storage technology or anycombination of storage technologies.

“Motor” generally refers to a rotating machine that transformselectrical or chemical energy into mechanical energy, such as by arotating shaft. Examples include electric motors and internal combustionengines.

“Movement” generally refers to an act of changing physical a physicalproperty such as position, dimension, posture, angle of incidence, orlocation to name a few nonlimiting examples. Movement of an object maybe caused by the object, by the activities of other objects acting onthe object either directly or indirectly, and/or by the actions ofenvironmental forces such as gravity, wind, and the like.

“Multiple” as used herein is synonymous with the term “plurality” andrefers to more than one, or by extension, two or more.

“Network” or “Computer Network” generally refers to a telecommunicationsnetwork that allows computers to exchange data. Computers can pass datato each other along data connections by transforming data into acollection of datagrams or packets. The connections between computersand the network may be established using either cables, optical fibers,or via electromagnetic transmissions such as for wireless networkdevices.

Computers coupled to a network may be referred to as “nodes” or as“hosts” and may originate, broadcast, route, or accept data from thenetwork. Nodes can include any computing device such as personalcomputers, phones, servers as well as specialized computers that operateto maintain the flow of data across the network, referred to as “networkdevices”. Two nodes can be considered “networked together” when onedevice is able to exchange information with another device, whether ornot they have a direct connection to each other.

Examples of wired network connections may include Digital SubscriberLines (DSL), coaxial cable lines, or optical fiber lines. The wirelessconnections may include BLUETOOTH, Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX), infrared channel or satellite band, or anywireless local area network (Wi-Fi) such as those implemented using theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11standards (e.g. 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g), or 802.11(n) to name afew). Wireless links may also include or use any cellular networkstandards used to communicate among mobile devices including 1G, 2G, 3G,or 4G. The network standards may qualify as 1G, 2G, etc. by fulfilling aspecification or standards such as the specifications maintained byInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU). For example, a network maybe referred to as a “3G network” if it meets the criteria in theInternational Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specificationregardless of what it may otherwise be referred to. A network may bereferred to as a “4G network” if it meets the requirements of theInternational Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMTAdvanced)specification. Examples of cellular network or other wireless standardsinclude AMPS, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, Mobile WiMAX, andWiMAX-Advanced.

Cellular network standards may use various channel access methods suchas FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, or SDMA. Different types of data may be transmittedvia different links and standards, or the same types of data may betransmitted via different links and standards.

The geographical scope of the network may vary widely. Examples includea body area network (BAN), a personal area network (PAN), a low powerwireless Personal Area Network using IPv6 (6LoWPAN), a local-areanetwork (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network(WAN), or the Internet.

A network may have any suitable network topology defining the number anduse of the network connections. The network topology may be of anysuitable form and may include point-to-point, bus, star, ring, mesh, ortree. A network may be an overlay network which is virtual and isconfigured as one or more layers that use or “lay on top of” othernetworks.

A network may utilize different communication protocols or messagingtechniques including layers or stacks of protocols. Examples include theEthernet protocol, the internet protocol suite (TCP/IP), the ATM(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technique, the SONET (Synchronous OpticalNetworking) protocol, or the SDE1 (Synchronous Digital Elierarchy)protocol. The TCP/IP internet protocol suite may include applicationlayer, transport layer, internet layer (including, e.g., IPv6), or thelink layer.

“Optionally” as used herein means discretionary; not required; possible,but not compulsory; left to personal choice.

“Personal computing device” generally refers to a computing deviceconfigured for use by individual people. Examples include mobile devicessuch as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, wearablecomputers installed in items worn on the human body such as in eyeglasses, laptop computers, portable music/video players, computers inautomobiles, or cellular telephones such as smart phones. Personalcomputing devices can be devices that are typically not mobile such asdesk top computers, game consoles, or server computers. Personalcomputing devices may include any suitable input/output devices and maybe configured to access a network such as through a wireless or wiredconnection, and/or via other network hardware.

“Predominately” as used herein is synonymous with greater than 50%.

“Processor” generally refers to one or more electronic componentsconfigured to operate as a single unit configured or programmed toprocess input to generate an output. Alternatively, when of amulti-component form, a processor may have one or more componentslocated remotely relative to the others. One or more components of eachprocessor may be of the electronic variety defining digital circuitry,analog circuitry, or both. In one example, each processor is of aconventional, integrated circuit microprocessor arrangement, such as oneor more PENTIUM, i3, i5 or i7 processors supplied by INTEL Corporationof Santa Clara, Calif., USA. Other examples of commercially availableprocessors include but are not limited to the X8 and Freescale Coldfireprocessors made by Motorola Corporation of Schaumburg, Ill., USA; theARM processor and TEGRA System on a Chip (SoC) processors manufacturedby Nvidia of Santa Clara, Calif., USA; the POWER7 processor manufacturedby International Business Machines of White Plains, N.Y., USA; any ofthe FX, Phenom, Athlon, Sempron, or Opteron processors manufactured byAdvanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale, Calif., USA; or the Snapdragon SoCprocessors manufactured by Qualcomm of San Diego, Calif., USA.

A processor also includes Application-Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC). An ASIC is an Integrated Circuit (IC) customized to perform aspecific series of logical operations is controlling a computer toperform specific tasks or functions. An ASIC is an example of aprocessor for a special purpose computer, rather than a processorconfigured for general-purpose use. An application-specific integratedcircuit generally is not reprogrammable to perform other functions andmay be programmed once when it is manufactured.

In another example, a processor may be of the “field programmable” type.Such processors may be programmed multiple times “in the field” toperform various specialized or general functions after they aremanufactured. A field-programmable processor may include aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) in an integrated circuit in theprocessor. FPGA may be programmed to perform a specific series ofinstructions which may be retained in nonvolatile memory cells in theFPGA. The FPGA may be configured by a customer or a designer using ahardware description language (HDL). In FPGA may be reprogrammed usinganother computer to reconfigure the FPGA to implement a new set ofcommands or operating instructions. Such an operation may be executed inany suitable means such as by a firmware upgrade to the processorcircuitry.

Just as the concept of a computer is not limited to a single physicaldevice in a single location, so also the concept of a “processor” is notlimited to a single physical logic circuit or package of circuits butincludes one or more such circuits or circuit packages possiblycontained within or across multiple computers in numerous physicallocations. In a virtual computing environment, an unknown number ofphysical processors may be actively processing data, the unknown numbermay automatically change over time as well.

The concept of a “processor” includes a device configured or programmedto make threshold comparisons, rules comparisons, calculations, orperform logical operations applying a rule to data yielding a logicalresult (e.g. “true” or “false”). Processing activities may occur inmultiple single processors on separate servers, on multiple processorsin a single server with separate processors, or on multiple processorsphysically remote from one another in separate computing devices.

“Retention Member” generally refers to an element, component, part,piece, or assembly configured to retain a first object in relation to asecond object. The second object may be the retention member itself suchas in the case of a retention member whose purpose is to hold itself inposition relative to the first object. A retention member may be anassembly of multiple interrelated members that together operate as aretention member.

Examples of retention members include, but are not limited to, elongatestructures such as a strap, chain, cable, wire, belt, string, and thelike. A retention member may include coupling devices such as a snap,latch, coupler, clasp, or hook. Other examples include fasteners such asa screw, bolt, nail, brad, nut, or staple.

“Sense parameter” generally refers to a property of the environmentdetectable by a sensor. As used herein, sense parameter can besynonymous with an operating condition, environmental factor, sensorparameter, or environmental condition. Sense parameters may includetemperature, air pressure, speed, acceleration, tension, weight, force,angle of deflection of an object with respect to another object or withrespect to gravity, the presence or intensity of sound or light or otherelectromagnetic phenomenon, the strength and/or orientation of amagnetic or electrical field, and the like. Other examples include, hearrate, changes in location according to a location service such as theGlobal Positioning System (GPS), blood pressure, and the like.

“Sensor” generally refers to a transducer configured to sense or detecta characteristic of the environment local to the sensor. For example,sensors may be constructed to detect events or changes in quantities orsense parameters providing a corresponding output, generally as anelectrical or electromagnetic signal. A sensor's sensitivity indicateshow much the sensor's output changes when the input quantity beingmeasured changes.

“Surround” as used herein means to “extend around at least a portionof.” Implicit is a physical or conceptual perimeter around an objectthat is at least partially enclosed by another object, or arrangement ofmultiple objects. This includes to fully envelope, to enclose on allsides, and/or to extend fully around the margin or edge. The term mayalso contemplates intermittent spacing between placement of objectsaround a portion of another object, such as in the case of chairs thatare said to surround a table, or police officers surrounding a building.The term also may be used in the abstract such as when a person'sactivities are surrounded by secrecy.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic retention apparatus, comprising: aretention member defining one or more recesses in at least a portion ofthe retention member; a rotating member with multiple teeth engaging theone or more recesses of the retention member, wherein the rotatingmember is rotatable in a first direction to reduce tension of theretention member, and wherein the rotating member is rotatable in asecond direction opposite the first direction to increase tension of theretention member; and an actuator mechanically coupled to the rotatingmember, wherein the actuator is responsive to sensor input from at leastone sensor, and wherein the actuator is arranged and configured torotate the rotating member in the first and second directions toincrease or decrease tension of the retention member in response toinput from the at least one sensor; wherein the retention member is anelongate retention member, and wherein the one or more recesses aredefined in a portion of the retention member that is wider than it isthick, and narrower than it is long.
 2. The automatic retentionapparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more recessinclude through holes interspersed along the retention member.
 3. Theautomatic retention apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating memberrotates around an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis defined by the retention member.
 4. The automaticretention apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating member rotatesaround an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to alongitudinal axis defined by the retention member.
 5. The automaticretention apparatus of claim 4, comprising: a braking mechanism coupledto the rotating member and configured to hold the rotating member fromrotating in either the first or second direction.
 6. The automaticretention apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retention member surroundsat least a portion of an object.
 7. The automatic retention apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the retention member has two ends, and both ends arecoupled to the object.
 8. The automatic retention apparatus of claim 6,wherein the retention member is mounted outside the object.
 9. Theautomatic retention apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retention membersurrounds at least a portion of a first object, and wherein at least oneend of the retention member is coupled to a second object that isseparate and distinct from the first object.
 10. The automatic retentionapparatus of claim 9, wherein the retention member has two ends, andboth ends are coupled to the second object.
 11. The automatic retentionapparatus of claim 9, wherein the first object is an article offootwear, and the second object is any one of a surf board, kite board,ski, snow board, or skate board.
 12. The automatic retention apparatusof claim 1, wherein rotating the rotating member in a first directiondisplaces a first portion of the retention member relative to a secondportion of the retention member to adjust tension of the retentionmember.
 13. The automatic retention apparatus of claim 1, wherein theactuator comprises: an electric motor mechanically coupled to therotating member, the electric motor responsive to control input from aprocessor programmed to control the electric motor to rotating in thefirst and second direction to adjust tension of the retention member.14. The automatic retention apparatus of claim 13, wherein the rotationin the first and second directions is controlled by the processor as afunction of force applied to the retention member.
 15. The automaticretention apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensorincludes a first sensor mounted to the retention member that isconfigured to generate input based on tension in the retention member,and a second sensor mounted to an object the retention member at leastpartially surrounds, and wherein the at least one sensor is configuredto generate input based on movement of the object.
 16. The automaticretention apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is responsive tothe sensor input, and wherein the processor is programmed to send thecontrol input to the electric motor to control the electric motoraccording to the sensor input to rotate the rotating member in the firstor second direction.
 17. The automatic retention apparatus of claim 16,wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense changes in asense parameter based on movement of the retention apparatus.
 18. Theautomatic retention apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least onesensor is configured to detect changes in a sense parameter caused bymovement of an object the retention member is coupled to.
 19. Theautomatic retention apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sensor inputincludes speed, angular momentum, velocity, motion, acceleration, airpressure, force, or ambient air temperature, or any combination thereof.